Bicycle hydraulic operating device

Abstract

A bicycle hydraulic operating device is basically provided with a main body, a hydraulic unit, a handlebar mounting structure and a lever. The main body includes a gripping portion. The hydraulic unit is mounted to the main body. The handlebar mounting structure is disposed on one of the main body and the hydraulic unit. The lever is pivotally mounted to one of the main body and the hydraulic unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A bicycle hydraulic operating device comprising:
 a main body including a first end, a second end, a pommel portion located at the second end, and a gripping portion disposed between the first end and the pommel portion; 
 a hydraulic unit mounted to the main body, the hydraulic unit including a hydraulic cylinder housing, the hydraulic cylinder housing defining a cylinder bore within which a piston is movably disposed; 
 a handlebar mounting structure including a handlebar attachment portion and a handlebar fastener, the handlebar attachment portion being disposed on the main body and located at the first end of the main body, the handlebar fastener being attached to the main body and configured to engage with a dropdown bicycle handlebar, the handlebar attachment portion and the handlebar fastener being separate from the hydraulic cylinder housing, the handlebar mounting structure being configured to be attached to a downwardly curved section of the dropdown bicycle handlebar; and 
 a lever pivotally mounted to a lever attachment portion of the hydraulic unit, the lever attachment portion being formed as an integral part of the hydraulic cylinder housing of the hydraulic unit and located at the second end of the main body, 
 the handlebar attachment portion including a curved handlebar contact surface configured to mate with a forward facing surface of the downwardly curved section of the dropdown bicycle handlebar in an installed state of the bicycle hydraulic operating device with respect to the dropdown bicycle handlebar. 
 
     
     
       2. The bicycle hydraulic operating device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the main body includes a receiving cavity, and the hydraulic unit is disposed within the receiving cavity. 
 
     
     
       3. The bicycle hydraulic operating device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the hydraulic unit is configured as a hydraulic brake unit. 
 
     
     
       4. The bicycle hydraulic brake operating device according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the lever actuates the hydraulic unit upon movement of the lever relative to the hydraulic unit to perform a braking operation. 
 
     
     
       5. The bicycle hydraulic operating device according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the gripping portion of the main body has a pair of lateral sidewalls with the receiving cavity formed between the sidewalls and an insertion opening located between the lateral sidewalls. 
 
     
     
       6. The bicycle hydraulic operating device according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the insertion opening is formed in a top wall of the main body. 
 
     
     
       7. A bicycle hydraulic operating device comprising:
 a main body including a first end, a second end, a pommel portion located at the second end, and a gripping portion disposed between the first end and the pommel portion; 
 a hydraulic unit that is separate from the main body and mounted to the main body, the hydraulic unit including a hydraulic cylinder housing having a cylinder bore and a piston movably disposed within the cylinder bore; 
 a handlebar mounting structure including a handlebar attachment portion that is formed as an integral part of the hydraulic cylinder housing and located at the first end of the main body, the handlebar mounting structure being configured to be attached to a downwardly curved section of a dropdown bicycle handlebar; and 
 a lever pivotally mounted about a pivot axis to the hydraulic unit, the pivot axis being located at the second end of the main body, the lever extending downward from the pivot axis along a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal center axis of the hydraulic cylinder housing, 
 the handlebar attachment portion including a curved handlebar contact surface configured to mate with a forward facing surface of the downwardly curved section of the dropdown bicycle handlebar in an installed state of the bicycle hydraulic operating device with respect to the dropdown bicycle handlebar, the handlebar mounting structure including a handlebar fastener that is at least partially disposed directly below the cylinder bore of the hydraulic unit along a direction parallel to the downward direction in which the lever extends 
 the gripping portion being made of a rigid material and configured to fill a space between the handlebar attachment portion and the pivot axis below the hydraulic cylinder housing. 
 
     
     
       8. The bicycle hydraulic operating device according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the hydraulic unit is configured as a hydraulic brake unit. 
 
     
     
       9. The bicycle hydraulic operating device according to  claim 8 , wherein
 the lever actuates the hydraulic unit upon movement of the lever relative to the hydraulic unit to perform a braking operation. 
 
     
     
       10. The bicycle hydraulic operating device according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the main body includes a receiving cavity, and the hydraulic unit is disposed within the receiving cavity. 
 
     
     
       11. The bicycle hydraulic operating device according to  claim 10 , wherein
 the gripping portion of the main body has a pair of lateral sidewalls with the receiving cavity formed between the sidewalls and an insertion opening located between the lateral sidewalls. 
 
     
     
       12. The bicycle hydraulic operating device according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the insertion opening is formed in a top wall of the main body. 
 
     
     
       13. The bicycle hydraulic operating device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the hydraulic unit includes an outlet port located at the first end of the main body and a fluid reservoir tank arranged at the second end of the main body. 
 
     
     
       14. The bicycle hydraulic operating device according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the hydraulic unit includes an outlet port located at the first end of the main body and a fluid reservoir tank arranged at the second end of the main body. 
 
     
     
       15. The bicycle hydraulic operating device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the handlebar contact surface is configured to extend beyond the handlebar fastener in an upward direction along the forward facing surface of the dropdown bicycle handlebar in the installed state of the bicycle hydraulic operating device with respect to the dropdown bicycle handlebar. 
 
     
     
       16. The bicycle hydraulic operating device according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the handlebar contact surface is configured to extend beyond the handlebar fastener in an upward direction along the forward facing surface of the dropdown bicycle handlebar in an installed state of the bicycle hydraulic operating device with respect to the dropdown bicycle handlebar. 
 
     
     
       17. The bicycle hydraulic operating device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a grip cover made of an elastic material and overlying at least portions of the gripping portion and the pommel portion. 
 
     
     
       18. The bicycle hydraulic operating device according to  claim 5 , wherein
 at least a portion of an external surface of the hydraulic cylinder housing is exposed through the insertion opening. 
 
     
     
       19. The bicycle hydraulic operating device according to  claim 11 , wherein
 at least a portion of an external surface of the hydraulic cylinder housing is exposed through the insertion opening. 
 
     
     
       20. The bicycle hydraulic operating device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the handlebar attachment portion is formed integrally with the main body. 
 
     
     
       21. The bicycle hydraulic operating device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the main body is attached to the hydraulic cylinder housing with a fastener. 
 
     
     
       22. The bicycle hydraulic operating device according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the main body is attached to the hydraulic cylinder housing with a fastener. 
 
     
     
       23. The bicycle hydraulic operating device according to  claim 7 , wherein
 a grip cover made of an elastic material is stretched over at least the gripping portion and the pommel portion of the main body. 
 
     
     
       24. A bicycle hydraulic operating device comprising:
 a main body including a first end, a second end, a pommel portion located at the second end, and a gripping portion disposed between the first end and the pommel portion; 
 a hydraulic unit that is separate from the main body and mounted to the main body, the hydraulic unit including a hydraulic cylinder housing having a cylinder bore and a piston movably disposed within the cylinder bore; 
 a handlebar mounting structure including a handlebar attachment portion that is formed as an integral part of the hydraulic cylinder housing and located at the first end of the main body, the handlebar mounting structure being configured to be attached to a downwardly curved section of a dropdown bicycle handlebar; and 
 a lever pivotally mounted about a pivot axis to the main body, the pivot axis being located at the second end of the main body, the lever extending downward from the pivot axis along a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal center axis of the hydraulic cylinder housing, 
 the handlebar attachment portion including a curved handlebar contact surface configured to mate with a forward facing surface of the downwardly curved section of the dropdown bicycle handlebar in an installed state of the bicycle hydraulic operating device with respect to the dropdown bicycle handlebar, the handlebar mounting structure including a handlebar fastener that is at least partially disposed directly below the cylinder bore of the hydraulic unit along a direction parallel to the downward direction in which the lever extends. 
 
     
     
       25. The bicycle hydraulic operating device according to  claim 24 , wherein
 the gripping portion is made of a rigid material and configured to fill a space between the handlebar attachment portion and the pivot axis below the hydraulic cylinder housing. 
 
     
     
       26. The bicycle hydraulic operating device according to  claim 24 , wherein
 a grip cover made of an elastic material is stretched over at least the gripping portion and the pommel portion of the main body. 
 
     
     
       27. The bicycle hydraulic operating device according to  claim 24 , wherein
 the main body is attached to the hydraulic cylinder housing with a screw.